Related Experiment Video

Updated: Nov 30, 2025

Minimally Invasive Murine Laryngoscopy for Close-Up Imaging of Laryngeal Motion During Breathing and Swallowing
07:22

Minimally Invasive Murine Laryngoscopy for Close-Up Imaging of Laryngeal Motion During Breathing and Swallowing

Published on: December 1, 2023

817

Paradigm Shift in Airway Management for Pierre Robin Sequence: Tongue Base Suspension

Shabbir Safri1, Johanna L Wickemeyer2, Taher S Valika3,4

  • 1Lincoln Memorial University, Harrogate, Tennessee.

The Journal of Craniofacial Surgery
|November 12, 2020
PubMed

Insights

Tongue base suspension (TBS) offers a less invasive surgical option for infants with Pierre Robin Sequence (PRS) and severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). This alternative approach effectively resolved airway obstruction, allowing the infant to be discharged without respiratory support.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Surgery
  • Craniofacial Anomalies
  • Sleep Medicine

Background:

  • Pierre Robin Sequence (PRS) presents significant airway challenges in infants.
  • Current surgical interventions include tongue lip adhesion and mandibular distraction.
  • These standard procedures, while effective, carry inherent risks and invasiveness.

Observation:

  • A 5-week-old male infant with PRS exhibited severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) unresponsive to noninvasive support.
  • Parents opted for the least invasive surgical method available.
  • The infant underwent tongue base suspension (TBS) without surgical complications.

Findings:

  • Following TBS, the infant demonstrated rapid weaning from high-flow oxygen to room air within 48 hours.
  • Post-operative polysomnography confirmed complete resolution of OSA.
  • The infant was discharged home, entirely free from respiratory support.

Implications:

  • Tongue base suspension (TBS) presents a novel, less invasive surgical alternative for managing pediatric airway obstruction in PRS.
  • TBS demonstrates comparable efficacy to established procedures like tongue lip adhesion and mandibular distraction.
  • This approach may offer improved outcomes and reduced morbidity for infants with PRS-related airway issues.

More Related Videos

The Rigid Tube as an Alternative in Controlling the Problematic Airway08:26

The Rigid Tube as an Alternative in Controlling the Problematic Airway

Published on: June 6, 2020

6.7K
Author Spotlight: Advancing Awake Nasotracheal Intubation with Flexible Video Rhino-Laryngoscopes03:58

Author Spotlight: Advancing Awake Nasotracheal Intubation with Flexible Video Rhino-Laryngoscopes

Published on: August 2, 2024

1.4K

Related Concept Videos

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation II: ACLS Airway Management01:22

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation II: ACLS Airway Management

Airway management is a key skill in emergency and critical care settings, as maintaining a clear airway is essential for adequate oxygenation and ventilation.Head Tilt-Chin Lift TechniqueThe head tilt-chin lift maneuver is an essential technique primarily used in patients without suspected cervical spine injuries. To perform this maneuver, one hand is placed on the patient’s forehead, and gentle pressure is applied backward to tilt the head. The fingertips of the other hand are positioned...
339
Suctioning the Oropharyngeal Airway01:25

Suctioning the Oropharyngeal Airway

In preparing for oropharyngeal airway suctioning, a nurse must gather all necessary equipment, including a suction unit with tubing, a prepackaged suction kit, sterile gloves, water or saline for irrigation, a water-soluble lubricant, and additional personal protective equipment (such as a gown, mask, and goggles) to control infections.
After assembling the equipment, the nurse should practice hand hygiene and don appropriate PPE according to infection control guidelines to avoid the...
573
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation V: Advanced Airway Management Techniques01:30

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation V: Advanced Airway Management Techniques

Airway management is essential in emergency and surgical medicine, ensuring ventilation and oxygenation in patients who cannot maintain their own airway. Clinicians use a range of techniques and devices to secure the airway, depending on the patient’s condition and the clinical context. Key methods include endotracheal intubation, rapid sequence intubation (RSI), supraglottic airway devices, and advanced visualization aids. In cases where these approaches fail, surgical airway...
295
Suctioning the Nasopharyngeal Airway01:29

Suctioning the Nasopharyngeal Airway

Nasopharyngeal suctioning is a procedure to remove secretions from the upper part of the respiratory tract that the patient cannot clear independently. It helps maintain airway patency and prevents complications such as aspiration pneumonia.
Equipment Required
2.0K
Oxygen Delivering System III: Tracheostomy and T-piece01:23

Oxygen Delivering System III: Tracheostomy and T-piece

Oxygen delivery is critical in clinical care, especially for patients with respiratory disorders or those undergoing surgical procedures. Various systems, such as tracheostomy and the T-piece, deliver oxygen to the lungs, ensuring adequate arterial oxygenation.
Tracheostomy
A tracheostomy is a surgically created opening (stoma) in the anterior part of the trachea. It is used to establish a patient airway, bypass an upper airway obstruction, simplify the removal of secretions, permit long-term...
3.9K
Tracheostomy: Procedure and Tubes01:28

Tracheostomy: Procedure and Tubes

A tracheostomy is a surgical procedure that creates an artificial opening into the trachea, typically at the second or third cartilaginous ring level. This opening allows the insertion of a tracheostomy tube, which can replace an endotracheal tube, provide mechanical ventilation, bypass an upper airway obstruction, or remove accumulated tracheobronchial secretions.
Tracheostomy tubes can be made of semiflexible plastic (polyurethane or silicone), rigid plastic, or metal, and they come in...
2.0K